As I sit here, thinking, typing, deleting, retyping
I hear you in the other room
Arguing with our dachshund
JackJack
And I can’t help, but smile

You two going back and forth
You, telling him,
“No! Stop chewing on mommy!”
Him,
*whine*
*growl*
*grumble*
*whine*
Me, listening
Imagining the sight
As my heart playfully battles with a pup
Smiling at the thought of how patient you are
How much love you have to give
How good a person you are

In spite of all you endured

It is why I admire you
And aspire to be
So much better than I am
So much better than I was
When you first met me

You’ve just chastised him about bullying our cats
Trying to make them *squeak* like his favorite toys
Which they do, sometimes
All the while I hear him
In response
*whine*
*growl*
*grumble*
*whine*
And you laugh
So pure a sound